VISITORS CENTER & RIDGWAY AREA CHAMBER

Ridgway, a charming Colorado town, is famous for being the location for the 1969 film "True Grit". Director Henry Hathaway chose the town for its spectacular scenery at the foot of the San Juan Mountains. In just six weeks, the film crew transformed the downtown area into a recreation of Fort Smith, Arkansas, in the 1880s. Some of the buildings used in the film are still visible today, such as the artist's studio that was once a firehouse and the post office that was once a stable. The Ouray County History Museum even houses the prison car used by John Wayne in the film. Aside from the cinema, Ridgway also offers plenty of outdoor activities, culinary experiences and a rich history of the American West to explore.